Years ago, when the first Lord of the Rings movie came out, I was so compelled by the storytelling that I decided I would read the trilogy in advance of the other movies releasing. This wasn’t exactly a mistake—the movies are hardly disappointing, quite the contrary—but I was angry at how the movie neatly tied a bow around the ending of the trilogy. It was too eager to satisfy. Critics even joked that the movie had three or four different endings, since it very methodically showed us the conclusion of each major character’s narrative arc.
The original ending by Tolkien was incredibly bittersweet—the good guys “win,” but this doesn’t automatically lead to a happy or tidy ending.
Over at Glimmer Train, writer Toby Wallis discusses endings that don’t necessarily satisfy—particularly those that refuse to answer the questions that are posed at the beginning of the story. He writes:
… sometimes endings are designed to satisfy, answering the questions posed along the way with a denouement that leaves no string unattached. Endings that allow you to leave as easily as you came in. But what if the ending isn’t designed to satisfy? What if it is trying to do something else? What if the story doesn’t want to let you leave quietly? What if the whole point is to pull the rug out from under you?
Also this month from Glimmer Train:
- Coyote by Karen Malley
- Oh, The Mistakes I’ve Made and The Wonders to Howl About by Stefanie Freele
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
[…] view post at https://janefriedman.com/story-ending-doesnt-satisfy/ […]
[…] Sometimes endings are designed to satisfy, answering the questions posed along the way. But what if the ending isn't designed to satisfy? […]
[…] So when I read an article that questions the satisfying endings of some works and wonders if the point of some is to leave readers not quite comfortable, I am happy. Characters have so much more going on that we can’t tell you all of it. But if you don’t believe me, check out Jane Friedman’s take […]
[…] When a Story Ending Doesn’t Satisfy (Jane Friedman) Years ago, when the first Lord of the Rings movie came out, I was so compelled by the storytelling that I decided I would read the trilogy in advance of the other movies releasing. This wasn’t exactly a mistake—the movies are hardly disappointing, quite the contrary—but I was angry at how the movie neatly tied a bow around the ending of the trilogy. It was too eager to satisfy. Critics even joked that the movie had three or four different endings, since it very methodically showed us the conclusion of each major character’s narrative arc. […]